KEY STEPS

UNFCCC workshop on adaptation planning and practices under the Nairobi work programme on impacts,
vulnerability and adaptation to climate change

Rome, Italy
10-12 September 2007

Introduction and overview

The SBSTA requested the secretariat, under the guidance of the Chair of the SBSTA, to organize,
before its twenty-seventh session, a workshop with the participation of Parties, relevant
organizations, business, civil society, decision makers and other stakeholders, to exchange
information and views on existing adaptation practices, experiences, needs, gaps, opportunities,
barriers and constraints, and on the contribution of traditional knowledge to the work on adaptation
planning and practices taking into account the submissions from Parties and relevant organizations on
this subject.

The workshop took place from 10 to 12 September 2007 in Rome, Italy. It was held in collaboration
with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The workshop enabled
around 150 experts representing developed and developing countries, along with intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, to share their experience in adaptation planning and practices in the
areas of agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zones and health and on how to
integrate and coordinate adaptation across different sectors and at different levels to contribute to
the overall efforts to achieve sustainable development. Discussions were held in plenary,
breakout groups and in a poster session.

Participants identified gaps and needs which currently inhibit adaptation planning and
implementation, and shared good practices for practitioners and decision-makers which can be
replicated in a wide range sectors to enable countries and communities to better plan for and design
adaptation to climate change. Participants discussed how to take forward recommendations aimed
at enhancing adaptation planning and practices. Many organizations outlined how they will pick up
some of the recommendations - be it relating to tailoring data, methods and information for users,
developing guidebooks on “how to” plan and implement adaptation, or supporting the
development of legal and institutional frameworks to promote collaboration and integration across
sectors and at different levels.